Fog dispeller



Nov. 30 ,l 1926.

A. Rin-ld FOG DISPELLER Filed June 14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 daal/f. @Al/0,

Nov. 30 1926.- 1,608,998

n A.- RIIHO FOG DISPELLER Filed JuneA 14. 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 i000- /F/f//o Gnome?! Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED sTATEs ADCI.;` RIIHO, F ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON.

A Foe DISPELLER.

application `inea June 14..4

' My invention relates to means for dispelling fog in advance of vehicles, either land, water or air. The primary object is the provision of a device, capable of vehicular attachment, by which a. sustained blast of heated air is forcibly projected and dispersed in advance of a vehicle tordispelling fog obscuring vision in travel.

Another object is the provision'in a dc- "vice of this character, of a combined air pump and 'attached heater for the outlet thereof.

A further object is the provision in a device of this character, of means for adapting same to accomplish the storage of compressed air.

With these andsuch other objects in view as will be apparent from the description, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein y Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through a unit constructed inaccordance with the principles of the invention, illustrating one practical embodiment thereof.

i Figure 2 is a section on lthe line 2'7-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the. line 3-3 of Figure 1. f

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the heating .means Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a section'on the line 6-6 of l Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an elevation, partly in section,

of the device with the heating means replaced by an air com 'ressor attachment.

Figure 8 is a ragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the device with the heating means replaced by an air conduit.

In detail, vthe invention consists of an elongated tubular casing 10, cylindrical in cross section, open at both ends and having one end formed in a gradually and outwardly fiared mout-h 11. The opposite end of the casing is externally threaded and is fitted with a spider 12 supporting a bearing 13 for one end ot' a longitudinally extending shaft 14, disposed within the casing' and journalled at its other end in a bearing 15 carried by the ends of a plurality'of peripherally spaced, outwardly bowed arms 16 extending longitudinally rom the a/red end 1926. senat-No. 115,968.

11 of the casing. A collar 1T retained by a.

set screw 18 is secured on the shaft for maintaining same in position against shifting, the collar engaging against the bearing 15.

In the flared end or mouth 11 of the caslng is arranged a suction fan for drawing air within the casing. This fan is made up of four blades 19, mutually arranged at right angles and attached at. their inner ends to the shaft 14 for rotation therewith. These blades are pitched at an angle of 45 degrees and are united at. their outer ends by a peripheral, annular" band 20 formed integral with the blades and revolving within the cage formed by the arms 16. The cage and casing mouth l11 form the intake through which air is drawn by the fan and discharged into the body of the casing.

Formed integral with the shaft f4 and extending between the bearing 13 and the tan. is a spiral screw conveyor' web. 21, one end ot which abuts and merges into one of the t'au blades 19.y The radial dimensioni of the web 2l is such that it has a close fitting engagement with the walls of the casing 10 throughoutthe major portion of its length. Power for rotating the shaft, fan and web is applied to a .driven pulley 22 on the end ot the shaft which extends beyond the bearing l5. t

A flared cylindrical nozzle 23 is detachably arranged, .by threading engagement, over the outlet end of the casing 10. The interiorof this nozzle forms a chamber 24, in which air issuing from the casing through the spiderl 12 lmay be preliminarily heated by a heat source 25, in this instance an electric light bulb, the socket 26 of which is carried at the center of a s ider frame formed of a plurality of radia ly arranged arms 27 of triangular cross section and in alignment with the arms of the spider 12, which arms are also of triangular cross section, all as best shown in Figure 6. .One of the spider arms 12 is provided with an oil bore 28 for the bearing 13, while a bore 29 is provided in one of the arms 27 for the wires (not shown) `connecting the light 25 with its supply.- Y

Disposed across the discharge end of the nozzle -23 is a screen or network of copperwires of small diameter, 30. This screen is carried by the nozzle, being suitably insulated therefrom, and is connected in series with the leads 31 and 32 of an electrical circuit (not shown) by which the Wires are energized to form an velectricheating gridv at these gaps acts to heat air discharged i from the nozzle, when the' shaft tated to actuate the device.`

As shown in Figure 7, the discharge endl of the casing may be fitted with a cap 34:' threaded thereover in place ofthe nozzle shown in Figurel. The cap is provided with a discharge nipple J for connection with atire air hose, whereby the apparatus may be employed as an air pump for in- `Hating tires. As` shown in Figure 8, the discharge end of the casing 10 may also be Fitted with a diierent forni of cap 36, threaded thereover and formed With a constricted neck 3-7 arranged for connection with a relatively large air conduit 38, employed for filling air tanks. A

It will be apparentthat in the operation of the device, which may be attached to a vehicle in any suitable manner, air. drawn into the casing 10 by the fan is initially 14:l is ro4 i. compressed by the constricting action of the mouth l1. The conveyor web 21 acts to ropel the air through. the body of the casing, projectingitthrough the discharge end with considerable vvelocity and in great volume. With the heating elements contained in the chamber 24 and nozzle 23, there Will be a suS- tained blast of hot air issuing from the apparatus in front of the vehicle by which it is carried, which will eifectively dispel fog and' mist.. l v

While in this preferred embodiment of the invention I have shown and described certain details entering into thefvconstruction and operation thereof, I desire it to-be understood that the invention is notI to be limited thereto, but that yany desired changes and modifications may be made in the structural Lacasse L osite end oi' said casing,l a bearing carried 'y said spider, a shaft journalled in said bearings and extending longitudinally through said casing, means or rotating said shaft, a shaft attached air propelling unit Within said casing for pumping air through said Casin and dischargino" from one end. thereof, a ared nozzle for threaded engagement with the discharge end of said casing, and a heating unit arranged over the mouth of said nozzle. v

2. Means for dispelling fog, comprising an elongated tubular casing open at both ends a flared enlarged mouth formed at one en of the casing, a bracket carried b said mouth, a support secured in the opposite end of said casing, a shaft extending longitudinally through 4said casing and journalled between said support and bracket, a fan rigidly secured toi-said shaft in the enlarged mouth of said casing, a spiral propeller on said shaft and extending through the casing, one end of said propeller being formed integral witha blade of said fan 1n a continuation thereof, said fan being of a. diameter greater than that of said spiral propeller, mea-ns forrotating said shaft for driving said fan and propeller, and means for heatin air carried through said casing..

n testimony whereof I aiix my signature..

ADOLF RHI-IO. 

